Additional Information
Talk to truck drivers to find out what their jobs and lives are like. It's
also a good idea to make as many contacts in the industry as you can. Try
job shadowing a truck driver in your community. See if you can take a short
trip with them.
Safe driving is the number one priority if you want to be a trucker --
you'll need a spotless driving record. Most companies don't want to hire someone
who's had accidents. To qualify for a commercial license, you must pass a
written test and a driving test as well as a medical exam. To qualify for
a commercial driver's license, applicants must pass a written test on rules
and regulations, and then demonstrate they can operate a commercial truck
safely.
"There are lots of requirements and regulations," says trucker Jeff Spong.
"Carriers really have to watch who they're putting out on the road."
Depending on the truck you drive and the freight you haul, you'll have
to get some training. This means having a special license and air brake training
if you operate a vehicle with that kind of braking system.
Shop around before committing to a school. Experts recommend that you look
for the following features in a program:
- Classroom instruction should include lectures and training videos.
- The school should provide a variety of well-maintained trucks, tractors
and semi-trailers to prepare you for local, long-haul, and city pick-up and
delivery driving.
- The school should have an off-street area for initial, behind-the-wheel
instruction in vehicle handling and maneuvering.
One of the best ways to verify the reputation of a training school is to
ask local trucking companies if they hire graduates from that school.
An average truck driving course is about five weeks long and costs between
$1,200 and $1,500.
Spong suggests getting technical training at a vocational school and then
targeting smaller companies in your job search. But be aware that a certificate
alone isn't usually enough to get hired as a trucker. Most trucking companies
won't hire truckers without experience.
Very few people enter truck-driving professions directly out of school;
most truck-drivers previously held jobs in other occupations. Driving experience
in the Armed Forces can be an asset. In some instances, a person may also
start as a truck driver's helper, driving part of the day and helping to load
and unload freight. Senior helpers receive promotion when driving vacancies
occur.
"Becoming a truck driver is a catch-22 situation," says Spong. "Most companies
won't hire people without experience, but if you're just starting out, how
do you get experience?"
A good way to get your start in the industry is to clock some time in a
warehouse or maintenance yard, picking up driving experience.
Another good approach might be to get a part-time or summer job working
as a truck driver's helper. Be prepared to do a lot of loading and unloading.
Contact your national organization for more information: